Is better to use a local solicitor or an online one

Clutterfree

When we moved last year, all but one person in our chain hired a local solicitor.
They were in Sussex and the solicitor in Wales.
Guess which person held up the chain?
If any paperwork was outstanding we'd all have to wait a week for said person to send and return documents whereas the rest of the chain could deal with paperwork the same day if necessary.
It was very frustrating for the rest of the chain.
Local everytime.

ReadingTim

Two hundred pounds. And how many hundreds of thousands of pounds are you paying for the property?

There's economy and false economy, and in many cases, remote online conveyancing is more of the latter than the former.

slightlychilled

Location is absolutely no guarantee of competence. Personal recommendation is the way to go regardless of where the solicitor physically is.

MK__2

I only have one experience of each...

1st house I bought i went online. They were a nightmare. Difficult to get hold of, took ages to answer emails, rarely got them on the phone (just rang and rang!) and when I did it was some assistant who couldn't answer any of my questions. Had to chase and chase for call backs.

2nd house I bought I went with a local firm. They always answer the phone and I get through to someone who can either answer my question, or who tells me a time exactly when my conveyancing solicitor will be in and will call me back (and they always do). I drop off all documents personally through the door so I know they have definitely got them.
This purchase was a bit more complex (leasehold - various works done without building regs), but i was able to go in and talk through the complicated stuff face to face and get advice there and then. Very happy all in all. Paid a few £100 extra, but worth every penny.

PasturesNew

I like the confidence I can get from potentially being able to walk in and see a face .... and being able to post anything through their physical door at midnight if I need to.

I like the idea of going into their office, signing a document and walking away knowing it's done.

If somebody's off sick/on holiday/been sacked .... then I'd rather be told that by walking into the office ... than feeling fobbed off on a phone.

sparky130a

Each to their own but i'll always go local.

I now have a solicitor i'll always use mind.

The anecdotal evidence would seem to suggest the one type you want to avoid are the "factory" ones. Mainly because admin clerks will be who you deal with most of the time not a legal professional.

As others have said quibbling over £200 in this transaction seems rather foolish...

Cirias

I went with one local to the property I'm buying (but not, as I later found out, easy for me to get to). It's been really helpful in dealing with the estate agent (as they already have a good relationship with the firm) and doing the local searches.

Now that I am coming really close to exchange I'm finding the solicitor invaluable as he is extremely responsive by email and is really working hard for me to get things checked with the seller's solicitor and also in drawing some additional items into the contract. Just been exceptionally good so far.

I don't know that I would have gotten that with an online one.

Oxide

I will be in this boat soon and online looks appealing.

Could people please put down who they used online?

sparky130a

Oxide wrote: »

I will be in this boat soon and online looks appealing.

I'm intrigued. Why?

kinger101

Oxide wrote: »

I will be in this boat soon and online looks appealing.

Could people please put down who they used online?

Many of them do need putting down.